UNSOLVED DISAPPEARANCE: KELLY WILSON

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When a small-town Texas teenager vanishes from the parking lot outside her after-school job, she’s never seen again. An investigation into compelling potential suspects is derailed when an attorney from out-of-town arrives determined to prove the existence—and outrageous crimes—of an alleged satanic cult in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Kelly Wilson was 17-years-old when she went missing from Gilmer, Texas in January of 1992. She was a lively high school senior active in extracurriculars and her after school job. She is badly missed by her family and friends. Image source: family photo.
This age-progressed image shows what Kelly might look like now, in her early 50s, if still alive. Image source: NCMEC.
Pictured: Roland Scott Lyford, the attorney who accused Sgt. Brown and seven other Upshur County Citizens of outrageous “satanic” crimes. Image source: Abilene Reported-News.
Pictured: Gilmer, TX CPS worker Debbie Minshew giving a lecture to foster parents in February of 1994. Three months later, she resigned from the agency while under investigation for her role in a scheme that irreparably harmed members of her community, including young children. Image source: Gary Lytle.
Pictured: Sgt. James Brown stands in front of a billboard he arranged to have displayed following Kelly’s disappearance. Sgt. Brown worked hard on her case, and was wrongfully maligned by a Galveston attorney named Roland Scott Lyford. Image source: Associated Press.

Sources used to research this episode:

Gilmer Girl Missing from Video Store (Chris Fletcher / Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Gilmer Youth Missing (Philip Williams / Longview News-Journal)

DA Names Suspect in Wilson Case (Phillip Williams / Longview News-Journal)

Stabbing Leads to Arrest, Arraignment (Longview News-Journal)

Gilmer Man Turns Self in to Sheriff (Betty Waters / Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Grand Jury Re-Indicts Man in Wilson Disappearance (Phillip Williams / Longview News-Journal)

Ward’s Attorney Questions Timing of New Perjury Charge (Phillip Williams / Longview News-Journal)

Ward’s Father Claims Jury Never Heard Evidence that Would Have Cleared Son (Keith Mathis / The Tyler Courier-Times)

Ward Fined, Gets Three Years in Prison (Phillip Williams / Longview News-Journal)

Cults, Controversy and Kidnapping: The Kelly Wilson Case (Lexie Hudson / CBS19 News)

Father of Suspect Raps Upshur D.A. (Phillip Williams / Longview News-Journal)

Teen Arrested for Slashing Missing Girl’s Tires (Chris Fletcher / Tyler Morning Telegraph)

One Indictment Issued in Case of Upshur Teen (Greg Junek / Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Hours After Acquittal, Ward Charged with Perjury Again (Phillip Williams / Longview News-Journal)

Gilmer Man Handed 3 Years for Perjury (Danny Bogle / Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Both Sides Rest in Ward Trial (Phillip Williams / Longview News-Journal)

Gilmer Officer Held in Murder of Missing Teen (Betty Waters / Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Despite Murder Charges, Gilmer Police Probing Case as Unsolved Disappearance (Betty Waters / The Tyler Courier Times)

Tapes: Gilmer Witness Was Coached (Associated Press)

Colorado City Suicides Echo Off Bizarre East Texas Murder Case (Mike Cochran / Abilene Reporter-News)

Gilmer Missing Case Still Unsolved (Bob Hallmark / KLTV7 News)

Murder in Texas (Chicago Tribune)

Ritual Killer? Or an Officer Wronged? (Sam Howe Verhovek / New York Times)

Rumor and Rancor (The Tyler Courier-Times)

Foster Child-Care System Under Fire (Victoria Loe and Allen Pusey / Corpus Christi Caller-Times)

Gilmer Caseworkers Under Agency Study (Associated Press)

Objectivity Question in Abuse Probe at Gilmer (Mark Smith / The Houston Chronicle)

Child Protective Worker in Wilson Case Denies Memo’s Remarks (Phillip Williams / Longview News-Journal)

Social Worker Who Handled Gilmer Abuse Case Resigns (Associated Press)

Former Children’s Services Agents Seek Removal from Kerr Lawsuit (Glenn Evens / Longview News-Journal)

Judge Dismisses 45 Charges in Gilmer Child Abuse Case (Anne Gillaspie / Tyler Morning Telegraph)

VANISHED: 29 Years Since 17-Year-Old Kelly Wilson Disappeared, the Questions About Her Case Persist (Christa Wood and Daniel Pierce / KETK News)

Unsolved East Texas: Kelly Wilson Still Missing 33 Years Later (Jesus Martinez)

Kelly Wilson’s Father Seeks Answers in Her 1992 Disappearance (KTBS News)

Ward v. State (1997)

KERR v. Roland Scott Lyford, Ann Goar, Debbie Minshew, Brooks Fleig, and Steve Baggs, Defendants-Appellees. (1999) (United States Court of Appeals via FindLaw)

James York BROWN, Plaintiff–Appellant, v. Roland Scott LYFORD; et al., Defendants, Roland Scott Lyford; Ann Goar; Debbie Minshew; Brooks Fleig; Steve Baggs; Upshur County, Texas, Defendants–Appellees. (United States Court of Appeals via WestLaw)

If you have any information on the disappearance of Kelly Wilson, please contact the Gilmer Police Department at (903) 843-5545.

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